EDIT 10/25: Sorry, been extremely busy of late in the cardiac intensive care unit. Perhaps a bit of revisionism on my part is in order. I think bands do need to get paid and it's certainly better to facilitate a direct-to-fan distribution method rather than filter things through the big labels. While the name-your-price model may not be the industry-toppling revolution we thought it might be (at least at the time being), it is a good start in that direction. And for that, Radiohead certainly deserves to be commended. In light of my reconsideration of things, not to mention the fact that 'In Rainbows' is a fantastic album, I certainly plan on supporting Radiohead when their CD does become available.

Mashed-up ad jingles (video)Be very afraid. This is a cacophony of commercial jingles that are already burned into your brain, spliced until they become a droning swell that will cause your head to explode.

Juno Trailer (video)What new movie features Jason Bateman and Michael Cera? The Arrested Development movie? Nope (I wish). But perhaps the next best thing. Hot off the heels of the hilarious "Superbad", Michael Cera is in a supporting role as awkward love interest (is there any other role for him?) opposite cute but capable lead Ellen Page. The early buzz is that it's this year's "Little Miss Sunshine".

Ok, I'm a bit late to the game. Just doing my little part to promote Blog Action Day and increase awareness about the environment. Refer to their resources here to find out how you can help.

The new hype machine is almost up. Seems like a cheap ploy to get on the digg front page. The counter needs to get to 10,000. However, it's rigged! Hit reload and see what I mean; the number jumps around. Give me my damn MP3 search engine already!

No Country for Old MenI'm pretty excited about about this new Coen brothers' movie. It features a great cast (Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson) and has strong early buzz; some are saying it's better than Miller's Crossing and Fargo.

Jay-Z - Blue Magic (video)From the American Gangster soundtrack. The song features Pharrell and the beat has his fingerprints all over it. Not sure if I'm feelin' the song yet, but the video is nice though.

While digital has been the way to go from the get-go for many aspiring indie artists, Radiohead started the trend of big name acts to embrace this distribution model. Fans, critics, and labels alike were incredulous, wondering if this was some crazy stunt or if indeed this was possibly a new revolution in music taking effect. While it remains to be seen whether the pay-what-you-feel-like business model is a sustainable one, with pricey collector sets and ticket sales then becoming the primary revenue generators, other artists are enthusiastically joining the mix, including Nine Inch Nails, Oasis, Jamiroquai, and now Madonna.

Judging from the early buzz, this model is here to stay: 1.2 million sold already. If the average price paid works out to $.50-$1.00, that's still a tidy sum. Thank you, Radiohead, for setting the bar high and delivering your best album since 'Kid A'.

Here are the actual album covers for your iPod or other organizational needs:

D.C. was known for being the murder capital for many years, not for hip-hop. Even though I'm originally from D.C., I find it difficult to name a prominent DC-area rapper. (Ummm, DJ Kool? Yeah). Despite the recent emergence of regional rap stars like Lil' Wayne in NO, T.I. in ATL, and the Swishahouse label in H-Town, the rise of Wale was not necessarily inevitable. But hard work and luck pays off. He got early exposure via WKYS and the Source magazine, fashioning a brand of hip-hop infused with regional go-go flava. Buzz from The Fader, XXL magazine, and collaborations with Mark Ronson have certainly helped him gain some deserved recognition.